{"id":211579,"date":"2025-05-02T19:48:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T02:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/?p=211579"},"modified":"2025-10-31T17:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T00:26:51","slug":"patience-in-bloom-why-waiting-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/patience-in-bloom-why-waiting-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Patience in Bloom: Why Waiting Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The story of a pink rhododendron that took six years to bloom serves as a metaphor for personal growth. Despite consistent care, it initially showed no visible signs of progress. This spring, it burst into beautiful blossoms, prompting reflections on life&#8217;s invisible growth periods. Just as the rhododendron established its roots before blooming, we too can spend long periods working hard without immediate results. This emphasizes that patience and continued effort are essential, as many projects and goals develop quietly beneath the surface. The waiting time is not wasted, and eventually, each person&#8217;s &#8216;moment of blooming&#8217; will arrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":211591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[31],"tags":[190,58,6],"class_list":["post-211579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-main","tag-growth","tag-leadership","tag-life"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_0827-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pzg9k-T2z","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":210328,"url":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/unlocking-success-investing-in-your-own-growth-and-development\/","url_meta":{"origin":211579,"position":0},"title":"Unlocking Success: Investing in Your Own Growth and Development","author":"Jon Plotner","date":"March 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, I received an interesting question from one of my leaders in a large team meeting. She asked, \u201cHow much do you spend each year for your own professional development?\u201d I quickly had an amount in my mind but also knew that that number would likely terrify some. The conversation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Main&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Main","link":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/category\/main\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"concrete steps of building with yard decorated with green bushes","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pexels-photo-7045704.jpeg?fit=1200%2C778&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pexels-photo-7045704.jpeg?fit=1200%2C778&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pexels-photo-7045704.jpeg?fit=1200%2C778&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pexels-photo-7045704.jpeg?fit=1200%2C778&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/pexels-photo-7045704.jpeg?fit=1200%2C778&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":212598,"url":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/two-types-of-leaders-which-one-are-you-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":211579,"position":1},"title":"Two Types of Leaders: Which One Are You?","author":"Jon Plotner","date":"April 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Main&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Main","link":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/category\/main\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"green plants on soil","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ruqhpukrn7c.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ruqhpukrn7c.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ruqhpukrn7c.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ruqhpukrn7c.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ruqhpukrn7c.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":962,"url":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/the-leadership-laboratory\/","url_meta":{"origin":211579,"position":2},"title":"The Leadership Laboratory","author":"Jon Plotner","date":"January 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Our leadership lifeGROUP at Living Stones recently began a new series based on a book by Jeff Iog titled\u00a0The Character of Leadership: Nine Qualities that Define Great Leaders. 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Start Having the Conversation.","author":"Jon Plotner","date":"May 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Main&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Main","link":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/category\/main\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"a man sitting at a table talking to a woman","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/yrsta3t5gds.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/yrsta3t5gds.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/yrsta3t5gds.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/yrsta3t5gds.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/yrsta3t5gds.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":211559,"url":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/responding-to-feedback-strategies-for-effective-growth\/","url_meta":{"origin":211579,"position":4},"title":"Responding to Feedback: Strategies for Effective Growth","author":"Jon Plotner","date":"April 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Feedback can feel personal and challenging, often seeming like a direct attack on one's identity. However, understanding that feedback reflects behavior and perception, rather than core identity, is crucial. Acknowledging that others\u2019 perceptions can differ from intentions allows an opportunity for growth. It\u2019s essential to approach feedback with humility and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Main&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Main","link":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/category\/main\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"man wearing black polo shirt and gray pants sitting on white chair","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-photo-935977.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-photo-935977.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-photo-935977.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-photo-935977.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pexels-photo-935977.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1053,"url":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/leading-is-letting-go\/","url_meta":{"origin":211579,"position":5},"title":"Leading is Letting Go","author":"Jon Plotner","date":"December 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Serving in a local church for many years, I was always looking for ways to be a better leader. 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Now serving in a broader role as coach for churches, I am\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Main&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Main","link":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/category\/main\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211579"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":211761,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211579\/revisions\/211761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonplotner.com\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}